Alright. So, basically, the ubermensch defines his own values. That is the most basic summary you're going to get. In TSZ, Nietzsche goes on and on about how its some sort of higher being. But that's just metaphorical. Neitzsche stated that ubermensch (what's the plural of this?) or people close to it already existed. He named people like Beethoven and Goethe as examples. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First we must understand why the ubermensch must exist. You've heard the expression 'god is dead' in relation to Nietzsche, but that meant simply that we can no longer use god as a basis for morality. The problem with this arrives when we come to realize that if god is no longer a source of morality, what the fuck do we do? 'In a world without God, everything is permitted' Dostoevsky said. So we need to find a source of morals or society will descend into nihilism, which to Nietzsche was really bad. The overman, or ubermensch, is the solution to nihilism, as a creator of values.

tldrUbermensch creates his own morals.

Now this is just lightly brushing the surface of Nietzsche's philosophy, but I'm not fantastic at explaining and I'm tired.

Oh and nihilism doesn't mean 'life is meaningless' in the this context, but instead that 'life is meaningless and ergo we shouldn't even bother.' (He lumps Christianity in here as nihilist because of it's rejection of this world in favor of another.) And embracing life is also an important aspect of the ubermensch. I can't believe I nearly forgot that.

I had always seen Rand as an Aristotelian thinker. I feel like I've seen her actually mention that, but I can't remember a source for it. Though, in all honesty, I think Rand's ethical theories can be defined as consequentialism which is kind of at odds with Virtue Ethics and it's focus on action as a moral fulcrum?

To be fair, I researched her because slightly younger and more starry eyed me fully aligned with her beliefs, and I could never understand why anyone would have a problem with her.

Adult commu-anarchist me says she's not too smart.

Though, to be fair, Rand tried to explain to people that her fictional novels were not indicative of her actual beliefs and were sort of self parodying, and no one listened. So I hold that she's not entirely horrible. Just.... stupid.